Drying behavior of dense refractory ceramic castables. Part 1 – General aspects and experimental techniques used to assess water removal

Despite the continuous evolution on performance of refractory ceramic products, monolithic materials still require special attention during their processing steps as various phase transformations may take place curing, drying and firing stages. Drying is usually longest most critical process observed first heating cycle linings, enhanced particle packing reduced permeability resulting microstructure lead to recurrent explosive spalling mechanical damage associated with dewatering development high steam pressure at inner regions such dense materials. In this context, review article mainly addresses (i) theoretical aspects related refractories, (ii) influence derived from binder additives, (iii) usual advanced experimental techniques assess water removal consolidated castable pieces. Many studies have pointed out that due complex nature phenomenon (i.e., considering combined thermal stresses pore pressure, heterogeneous microstructure, evolving structure temperature, etc.), mechanisms behind withdrawal castables are lacking further understanding and, consequently, it has been difficult save time energy industrial equipment lined On other hand, different methods used for assessment many efforts carried in applying situ imaging (such NMR neutron tomography) follow moisture treatments.